There are few house plants which can be so exotic and stunning as a bird of paradise.
Look closely at the amazing flowers of this plant, and you’ll soon see why it has this name.
The flowers take the shape of the head of a tropical animal, and these plants are certain to provide a talking point in any room.
They can get pretty large!, so it is important that you make sure that you have enough space for your plant to grow and flourish.
In this guide – we will find out how large a bird of paradise plant can get and also how quickly.
How Big Do Bird Of Paradise Plants Get And How Quickly Do They Grow?
Your bird of paradise plant could be a bit slower growing inside than outside plant.
In general, these plants will grow approximately 12 inches (decade) each year, assuming conditions are correct.
When you first get your plant it will likely be a pretty small plant and it will probably double in size in the first year.
However, keep in mind that the plant could then make rapid progress in the next three to five years.
At this point, it would not be unusual for the plant to grow to around six feet tall.
In addition – Indoor bird of paradise plants can also grow pretty wide. You can prune the plants to keep the leaves a bit tighter and you can remove leaves if you would like to keep the plant smaller.
What About Outdoor Bird Of Paradise Plants?
If you choose to keep your bird of paradise plant outside, keep in mind that these plants will do best in a warm, sunny spot.
Spring and summer are when they will be the most vigorous.
Typically, it will take a couple of years for the plant to settle, and you can expect to wait around five years for it to grow full-sized.
At this point — It may grow a height of six feet but that really depends on which species you have chosen. (We’ll get to the species and height later in this post.)
The bird of paradise will grow several spikes, so you can divide one plant into several plants.
You should be aware that this will slow the growth rate and affect how soon it will flower.
In any case, it will take them around three years to come back strong.
Growth Chart For Different Species Of Bird Of Paradise Plants
| Bird of Paradise Species | Height |
|---|---|
| Dwarf bird of paradise | 2.5 feet |
| Orange bird of paradise | 6 feet |
| White bird of paradise | 7 feet |
| White flowering banana plant | 7 feet |
| Narrow leaf bird of paradise | 6 feet |
Tips For Keeping Bird Of Paradise and Maintaining Health Growth
Like any other plant, providing the best maintenance is the most important factor in enabling your own bird of paradise to thrive.
If you want your plant to flourish as fast as possible, there are things you can do to speed up the process while keeping your plant healthy at the same time.
Using Mulch
Before we get into mulching, it’s important to say that you never want to overwater your bird of paradise as it may result in root rot.
By putting a layer of mulch down on the soil, the soil will hold more water and keep the plant and roots from drying out.
If you’re worried about too much moisture possibly accumulating, you could always use bark mulch which will absorb any extra water.
This will be useful if it’s rainy and the plant is outdoors. The mulch may absorb the water but later releases it back to the soil in a slow, steady fashion.
What’s more- mulch will help lessen the chances for weeds to infest which could compromise the health of your plant since weeds can take important nutrients from the soil as well.
Choose The Right Pot Size
Clearly the bird of paradise is not a wee little plant so you will need to remember to choose the appropriate size to keep the plant thriving.
Some people prefer to choose the smallest pot possible as this also keeps the roots tighter and more manageable.
Keep in Mind: for a six foot plant, you want a pot that is at least 16 inches amanment.
Pruning
To make sure your bird of paradise is healthy and new leaves are encouraged, you will need to remove the dead leaves.
If you see them dying, you won’t do any harm to remove them early.
If you have brown leaves, you can just cut these back to where they turn green.
Be sure to use a sharp pair of cutters to reduce damage to the plant as much as possible.
Fertilizing
When you want to spice up your bird of paradise, it is hard to beat some liquid fertilizer.
This will increase the nitrogen levels in the soil and will encourage new leaf growth.
Usually, you should fertilize about every four weeks in summer.
Conclusion
The bird of paradise plant is a beautiful plant that is generally held indoors, but can be outdoors if conditions are amenable.
These large bird-like plants can become very large when some are grown to 7 feet tall!